As a group of Ballard students prepare their photographs for exhibits at the Ballard ARTwalk this weekend, they have to share the equipment provided by the school. Film cameras may be outdated in this digital age, but they are in high demand and short supply in the photography classes at Ballard High School.

Photography Teacher Gina O'Neill says her program is so popular she has 140 kids in five classes. Each year the program runs out of loaner cameras for students. This year they are 42 cameras short and students have to rotate the usage.

Over the years, teacher Gina O'Neill has found enough 35mm single lens reflex cameras for her students to use. She is always looking for camera donations from the general public.

With so many people switching to digital photography, there must be old film cameras gathering dust in closets.

These single lens reflex film cameras are ideal for learning about shutter speeds, metering, apertures, depth of field and focal lengths. There are beginning, advanced and commercial photography students in the program. O'Neill says her students learn the fundamentals they might learn if shooting with digital cameras.

"It's not an easy class, we have lots of things for them to do," said O'Neill.

The curriculum includes topics like exposure, composition, film development and printing. "It's basic stuff. They are less likely to learn that in digital. They learn by doing," said O'Neill.

Senior Clinton Carucci has earned a scholarship worth over $10,000 to attend the Art Institute of Seattle where he will study photography. In the digital age, Carucci enjoys working with film, and chemical processes. "It's nice to do something no one else is doing. It's a shame no one is doing film. I like all the steps, its hands on," he said.

Starting last spring, 11 students learned what it was like to be artists after being invited to display their work at the Ballard ARTwalk.

"They were a little nervous and excited to show their work," said O'Neill.

They have been invited back again for the ARTwalk on Saturday, May 13. This time there will 18 students, including some from the painting and drawing classes.

Katy Szekely, the Ballard ARTwalk coordinator who works with the Ballard Chamber of Commerce said the student exhibits a year ago were a success.

"The crowd liked it a lot. It was a nice time," said Szekely.

Because the student shows went well, many other businesses have inquired about hosting art displays.

People who may not normally come to see art exhibits turned out. They included friends and family members of the students.

The Art Boosters, a group of parents who support the arts at Ballard High were instrumental in organizing the shows.

In the past, parent group raised funds for display cases and portable display boards. In December, art students collaborated on a Santa Claus photo sale. They painted a backdrop, recruited a student Santa and took the Santa pictures themselves.

The money raised, about $175 was given to O'Neill to buy a 35mm film camera for her students to use in class.

"We want to create visibility for art and the students who create them as well," said Laurie Hengtgen who co-founded the boosters with another parent, Jamie Federighi.

Students not only create art, they are exposed to the business aspect of the field, as they make appointments with merchants and do presentations of their work.

"It's an overall good experience for the kids. It enriches their lives," said Hengtgen.

The Ballard ARTwalk line-up for Ballard students: Pietro Boyd, Ye Long, Joshua Overlock-Pauley and Jessica Kutrakun at Blowing Sands Glass Studio/Laura Frost Gallery; Clinton Carucci, Travis Morehead and Charity Gage at Andrew Parker/Forum Center; Sami Kubo and Sophie Hingtgen at U-Frame-It; Katherine Groesbeck and Kelsey Graves at La Tienda Folk Art Gallery; Alyssa Erickson-Wayman and Cedar Scarlett-Lyon at La Tienda Folk Art Gallery; Kealan Haynie, Sara Ranlett and Ashraf Hasham at Annie's Art and Frame; Julia Graves and Diana Federighi at Shakti Vinyasa Yoga Studio and Gallery.

If you have a 35mm camera in good working condition to donate to the Ballard High School photography classes, call 252-1000. There are tax-deductible donation forms available.